Kohi lawyer expands her firm to her community.
Local lawyer Claire Endean has cemented herself in Kohimarama with her firm’s new office on the corner of Tamaki Drive and Averill Ave. Claire is the director of Dawsons Lawyers, a modern law firm that uses cutting edge technology as part of its service in property and commercial law, and estate planning. The Kohi office complements the Botany office which has a team of 10 talented and experienced legal professionals.
Claire secured the office space when the neighbouring Kohi Store and Eatery, co-owned by her partner James, expanded late last year.
“I live here and I’m part of the community, so I want to build a business here too,” Claire tells Verve. “We jumped at the opportunity to be in such an amazing location where we get to see so many familiar faces and have that close connection with the community.”
The location is about more than just being handy to home. Claire says she wants to provide a service that’s welcoming, and being in the neighbourhood is part of that.
“Whether it be picking up the phone or walking in off the street, it’s important for us to be open and accessible, which isn’t always the case with some lawyers.”
Dawsons Lawyers is a family firm, with Claire’s father Bill having been a partner in the firm for 30 years. Claire remembers starting at Dawsons nine years ago and seeing a typewriter still on someone’s desk, but things have been modernised considerably since then.
“We’ve brought in technology that allows people to generate their own legal documents straight from our website, and they still have legal standing. You can draw up things like simple loan agreements or even wills without needing to come in or talk to a lawyer if you don’t want to.
“We’re a family-owned, local business, and we want to serve locals in a way that suits them.”
